Electromagnetic device and method



23, 1966 A. R. DAVIS, JR

ELECTRQMAGNETIC DEVICE AND METHOD Filed Aug. 26, 1964 FIG.2

FIG.I

INVENTOR. ALVA R. DAVIS, JR.

HIS ATTORNEYS r 3,267,867 Patented August 23, 1966 3 267,867 7 ELECTRGMAGNETKb DEVICE AND METHOD Alva R. Davis, Jr., Corona Del :Mar, Calif., assignor to Robertshaw Controls Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 392,245 19 Claims. (Cl. 103-53) This invention relates to an improved electromagnetic device as well as to an improved method of operating such a device or the like.

It is well known that electromagnetic devices have been provided wherein a movable armature is oscillated by the motor so as to drive a driven device, such as a fluid pump or the like.

It is also well known that such an armature can be resiliently mounted so that the same has a natural tendency to move to one position relative to the electromagnetic motor and to. another position under the influence of the motor to provide the aforementioned oscillating drive means.

Such a resiliently mounted armature normally moves in an arcuate pat-h whereby such arcuate movement of the armature adversely affects a flexible part of the fluid pump, such as a flexible diaphragm thereof or the like.

According to the teachings of this invention, however, improved means are provided wherein the armature can move in its arcuate path while the movable part of the fluid pump or the like is adapted to move in a substantially rectilinear path so that the movement of the movable part of the fluid pump will not adversely affect the flexible diaphragm thereof,

Thus, it can be seen from the above and the description which follows that this invention provides a low cost means of connecting the motor armature to the fluid pump so as to provide a reasonable rectilinear motion of the movable part of the fluid pump for a maximum diaphragm life thereof from an armature that oscillates in a substantially curvilinear path.

This invention also provides the aforementioned features with no mechanical backlash in the device and with a wear-free connection between the armature and the movable part of the fluid pump.

The connection between the armature and movable part of the fluid pump of this invention provides means to obtain maximum deflection on the spring drive from the diaphragm membrane lateral resistance to provide most nearly rectilinear motion. 7

The above described connection also provides a means of adjustment to vary the length of the drive for optimum pump performance.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved electromagnetic device having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved parts for such an electromagnetic device or the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved method of operating such device or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an axial cross-sectional view of the improved electromagnetic device of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the device illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an exploded, perspective view illustrating certain parts of the device of FIGURE 1.

While the various features of this invention are here inafter described and illustrated as being particularly adaptable for providing an electromagnetic device controlling the operation of a fluid pump or the like, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide other devices as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2, an improved electromagnetic device of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and comprises a substantially C-shaped frame member 11 having an armature 12 mounted on one end 13 thereof by a leaf-like metallic flexible member 14 in a manner hereinafter described and having an electromagnetic coil 15 mounted on the other end 16 thereof wherein the end 16 provides a core means for the electromagnetic motor 15.

A fluid pump 17 is mounted to the frame member 11 intermediate the ends 13 and 16 thereof in .a manner hereinafter described and includes a fixed housing member 18 and a movable housing member -19 interconnected together by a flexible diaphragm 20, the movable housing 19 being resiliently interconnected to the armature 12 in a manner hereinafter described whereby movement of the armature 12 relative to the core 16 of the motor 15 causes a pumping action on the movable housing 19 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The fluid pump 17 has the flexible diaphragm 20 thereof provided with an outer peripheral edge 21 which snap fits over an outwardly directed flange 22 of the housing member 18, the inner peripheral edge 23 of the diaphragm 20 being staked to the movable housing 19 whereby the diaphragm 20 defines a chamber 24 between the housings 18 and '19. The housing 18 carries a valve member 25 while the housing member 19 carries a valve member 26.

The valve member 25 opens and closes a passage 27 leading from the exterior of the fluid pump 17 to the chamber 24 thereof while the valve member 26 opens and closes a passage 28 leading from the chamber 24 of the pump 17.

During the operation of the pump 17, in a manner hereinafter described, the movable housing 19 is oscillated relative to the fixed housing 18 whereby when the movable housing 19 moves toward the housing 18, the valve member 25 closes the passage 27 so that the fluid in the decreasing chamber 24 escapes out through the passage 28 by means of the opened valve member 26. Conversely, when the housing 19 moves away from the housing 18, the valve member 26 closes the passage 28 while the valve member 25 opens the passage 27 so the fluid can be drawn from the passage 27 to fill the expanding chamber 24.

Thus, it can be seen that the fluid pump 17 is adapted to evacuate a pneumatic actuator or the like interconnected to the passage 27 thereof upon the housing member 19 being oscillated relative to the housing 18.

The pump 17 has a projection 29 adapted to pass through an opening 30 in the frame member 11 so that a Wall 31 of the pump 17 will abut against the frame member 11 to properly position the pump 17 relative thereto, the projection 29 having a threaded portion 32 threadedly receiving a lock nut 33 which will hold the pump 17 in a fixed position to the frame member 11 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1.

The armature 12 comprises a plate-like member mounted in a cantilevered fashion to the end 13 of the frame member 11 by the leaf spring 14 whereby the armature 12 will move in an arcuate path relative to the core 16 of the motor 15 under the influence of the motor 15, the armature 12 having a bellowed end surface 34 cooperable with the end surface 35 of the core 16.

For example, the leaf spring 14 is secured to the end 13 of the frame member 11 by threaded fastening members 36 which hold the spring 14 against the end 13 of the frame member 11 and sandwich a retainer 37 therebetween, the end 13 of the frame member 11 and retainer 37 having adjacent beveled surfaces 38 and 39 to readily permit the leaf spring 14 to flex relative thereto.

The other end 40 of the leaf spring 14 is interconnected to the armature 12 by rivet-like members 41, the rivetlike members 41 holding the end 40 of the spring 14 against the side 42 of the armature 12 and holding a platelike retainer 43 against the other side of the spring 14. The retainer 43 has a beveled end 44.

The rivet-like members 41 also hold a smaller flexible metallic leaf-like metal member 45 to the armature 12 between a pair of plate-like retainers 46 and 4'7 respectively having beveled end surfaces 48 and 49.

The armature 12 is adapted to beinterconnected to the movable housing 19 of the fluid pump 17 in such a manner that the housing 19 is adapted to move in a substantially rectilinear path relative to the fixed housing 18 even though the armature 12 is moving in an arcuate path provided by the leaf spring 14.

In particular, an internally threaded retainer 50 has an annular flange 51 staked to the housing 'part 19 Whereby the retainer 50 is fixed to the movable housing 19, the flange 51 of the retainer 50 having suitable openings or slots 52 provided therein to interconnect the space 53 between the valve member 26 and the retainer 50 to the atmosphere. However, a porous flexible member 54 is carried by the retainer 50 to mufiie the sound of escaping fluid out through the slots 52 of the retainer 51 A threaded member 55 is threadedly received in the retainer t) and holds a U-shaped clip 56 to the end 57 of the leaf spring 45 by passing through suitable openings 58 in the clip 56 and an opening 59 in the leaf spring 45 whereby the threaded member 55 is adapted to be fixed' to the end 57 of the leaf spring 45 by means of a Washer 60 and nut 61 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE '1.

The threaded member 55 is adapted to be fixed in its adjusted position in the threaded retainer 50 by a threaded lock member 62.

The operation of the electromagnetic device of this invention will now be described.

With the 'frame member 11 suitably mounted, the motor has electrical current supplied thereto in such a manner that the same provides a cycle for drawing the armature 12 to the left in opposition to the natural tendency of the leaf spring 14 to hold the armature 12 in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 whereby the housing 19,

is moved toward the housing 18 to expel the fluid in the decreasing chamber 24 out through the outlet valve 26 and muflier 54 to the atmosphere.

the expanding chamber 24 by the open valve member 25.

Thus, it can be seen that as the armature 12 is oscillated back and forth from right to left in FIGURE 1, the fluid pump 17 is adapted to pump fluid from the passage 27.

However, the oscillating armature 12 moves in an arcuate path provided by the leaf spring 14 whereby such arcuate movement of the armature 12 would adversely affect the diaphragm if the same moved the housing member 19 in an arcuate path relative to the housing 18. However, since the armature 12 is interconnected to the housing 19 by the resilient flexible means 45, it can be seen that the housing 19 is adapted to move in a substantially rectilinear path relative to the housing 18 to minmize the strain on the flexible diaphragm 20 even a r up though the armature 12 is moving in a substantially curvilinear path.

In order to adjust the position of the fluid pump 17 relative to the armature 12, the lock nut 33 is backed off from the frame member 11 and the lock member 62 is backed off the fluid pump 17 whereby the fluid pump 17 can be rotated relative to the frame member 11 to adjust the position between the threaded member 55 and the retainer 50. After the fluid pump 17 has been properly adjusted relative to the threaded member 55, the housing 18 ofthe pump 17 is adapted to be again fixed to the frame member 11by the lock member 33 and the lock member 62 is adapted to hold the threaded member 55 in its adjusted position relative to the fluid maximum diaphragm life thereof from an armature that oscillates in a substantially curvilinear path. In addition, the connection between the armature 12 and fluid pump 17 provides no mechanical backlash between the same and is substantially Wear free. Further, the connection between the armature 12 and fluid pump 17 of this invention provides maximum length between the armature 12 and diaphragm 20 to obtain maximum deflection on the spring drive from the diaphragm membrane lateral resistance to provide most nearly rectilinear motion. Also, the connection between the armature 12 and fluid pump 20 provides a means of adjustment to vary the length of the drive for optimum pump performance.

Accordingly, it can be seen that not only does this invention provide an improved electromagnetic device and parts therefor or the like, but also this invention.

provides an improved method of operating such a device or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be'used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, an electromagnetic motorhaving a core, an armature for moving relative to said core in an arcuate path, means driven by movement of said armature, support means supporting said motor, said armature and said driven means, and flexible metallic means interconnecting said armature and said driven means together so that said armature can move in its arcuate path While said driven means moves in a substantially rectilinear path, said flexible metallic'means having one end secured to said armature and having thepother end secured to said driven means whereby said flexible metallic means flexes between its ends when said armature moves in said arcuate path.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said driven means includes a fluid pump.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said fluid pump has a suction chamber body fixed to said support means and a movable exhaust chamber body interconnected to said flexible metallic means.

4. In combination, an electromagnetic motor having a core, an armature for moving relative to said core in an arcuate path, means driven by movement of said metallic means flexes between its ends when said armature moves in said arcuate path.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said support means includes a substantially C-shaped frame member having one of its ends secured to saidone end of said leaf spring.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said electromagnetic motor is mounted on the other end of said frame member whereby said other end of said frame member provides said core.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said driven means is mounted to said frame member intermediate said ends thereof.

8. In combination, an electromagnetic motor having a core, an armature for moving relative to said core in an arcuate path, means driven by movement of said armature, support means supporting said motor, said armature, and said driven means, and a flexible leaf spring member interconnecting said armature to said driven means so that said armature can move in its arcuate path while said driven means moves in a substantially rectilinear path said flexible leaf spring member having one end secured to said armature and having the other end secured to said driven means whereby said flexible leaf springmember flexes between its ends when said armature moves in said arcuate path.

9. A combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said leaf spring member has one end fixed to said armature and the other end fixed to said driven means.

10. A combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said armature has an opening therein and carries said leaf spring member on the side thereof opposite to said driven means whereby said driven means projects through said opening.

11. In combination, an electromagnetic motor having a core, an armature for moving relative to said core in an arcuate path, a fluid pump driven by movement of said armature, said pump having a fixed housing and a movable housing interconnected together by a flexible diaphragm, support means supporting said motor, said armature and said fixed housing of said pump, and a flexible leaf spring member interconnecting said armature to said movable housing so that said armature can move in its arcuate path while said movable housing moves in a substantially rectilinear path said flexible leaf spring member having one end secured to said armature and having the other end secured to said driven means whereby said flexible leaf spring member flexes between its ends when said armature moves in said arcuate path.

12. A combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein a threaded member is threadedly carried by said movable housing and is secured to said flexible leaf spring member.

13. A combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein a threaded retainer threadedly receives said threaded member, said retainer being staked to said movable housing to interconnect said threaded member thereto.

14. A combination as set forth in claim 13 wherein said retainer has openings passing therethrough to provide outlet means for said pump.

15. In an electromagnetic device having an electromagnetic motor for driving a driven means, the improvement comprising an armature movable in an arcuate path, and metallic spring means interconnecting said armature to said driven means so that said armature can move in its arcuate path while said driven means moves in a substantially rectilinear path, said metallic spring means having one end secured to said armature and having the other end secured to said driven means whereby said metallic spring means flexes between its ends when said armature moves in said arcuate path.

16. In an electromagnetic device as set forth in claim 15, said metallic spring means includes a leaf-like metallic member secured to said armature in cantilevered fash- 17. A method for operating a driven means comprising the steps of moving an armature of an electromagnetic device in an arcuate path, and interconnecting said armature to said driven means with a flexible metallic means so that said armature can move in its arcuate path While said driven means moves in a substantially rectilinear path, said flexible metallic means having one end secured to said armature and having the other end secured to said driven means whereby said flexible metallic means flexes between its ends when said armature moves in said arcuate path.

18. A method as set forth in claim 17 and including the step of forming said flexible metallic means from a leaf-like metallic member.

19. A method as set forth in claim 17 and including the step of mounting said armature on a cantilevered leaf spring so that said armature will move in an arcuate path.

References Cited by the Examiner 

1. IN COMBINATION, AN ELECTROMAGNETIC MOTOR HAVING A CORE, AN ARMATURE FOR MOVING RELATIVE TO SAID CORE IN AN ARCUATE PATH, MEANS DRIVEN BY MOVEMENT OF SAID ARMATURE, SUPPORT MEANS SUPPORTING SAID MOTOR, SAID ARMATURE AND SAID DRIVEN MEANS, AND FLEXIBLE METALLIC MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID ARMATURE AND SAID DRIVEN MEANS TOGETHER SO THAT SAID ARMATURE CAN MOVE IN ITS ARCUATE PATH WHILE SAID DRIVEN MEANS MOVES IN A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTILINEAR PATH, SAID FLEXIBLE METALLIC MEANS HAVING ONE END SECURED TO SAID ARMATURE AND HAVING THE OTHER END SECURED TO SAID DRIVEN MEANS WHEREBY SAID FLEXIBLE METALLIC MEANS FLEXES BETWEEN ITS ENDS WHEN SAID ARMATURE MOVES IN SAID ARCUATE PATH. 